In these difficult times, few disagree that
there is seemingly an inexhaustible need to invent education terms, and the
words and phrases we in education choose to describe what we do are never at
rest. It seems as though every day new ways of expressing old ideas are
formulated and added to the bewildering, bubbling stew known by such
unflattering names as eduspeak, pedagogese, edutalk, and so on. There is
seemingly no end to it, and I think new and future teachers need to be clear
about the technical language of their profession. Whether dealing with
parents, students, other teachers, administrators, or the public, the
need for specificity has never been greater.In
these still difficult times with the economic downturn and employment losses
across the board from manufacturing jobs to education positions, the need
for clarity has never been more important. Available funds for education
need to be spent prudently.

In my years of education, especially my early
years, I was exposed to many expressions that at first I thought were very
insightful. They seemed at the time to be perceptive and useful. However,
upon reflection, I now know I was naive. An example:

Many of you reading this have probably heard an
expression that goes something like this: "This program allows the child to
learn at his own pace." What in the world does THAT mean? Think about it. At
what other pace can a child learn but his own? Yet that phrase has been used
in countless promotions for educational programs and materials, as if it
were some sort of endorsement or validation. A truly worthless expression.
What we really want to accomplish is to help children increase the pace at
which they learn, thereby making learning more efficient.

Another is, "We take the child from where he
is......" Well, great. Where else is the child than where he is? I
have heard this phrase used in education during my entire career spanning
nearly five decades. And now, in the 21st century, its use has not abated in
the slightest. Such language adds little to efforts to improve communication
or clarify meaning. Such language does little to improve education in any
practical way, but it sure does sound pretty meaningful.

I scoured the Internet to find descriptions of
words and expressions that are commonly used in education. If you go to the
links below, you will find commentary and a sometimes bewildering array of
phrases and their descriptions. In some cases, they are humorous, in others,
bewildering. As part of the ongoing mission of ADPRIMA to bring clarity and
the best information to new and future teachers, I offer the following
links: